By Eddie Fabrizio
What do a group of friends, country music, and the New York Mets have in common? It is all part of the pre game ritual of a Broomball team.
Living in a suite with three members of a Broomball team got me wondering, what is Broomball gameday like for the player? So I was allowed to tag along with my suitemates, Carmine Carlucci, Grayson Natale, and Jack Lee, all of whom are Juniors and part of the Rink Rascals, a team in the league this semester.
I started my observation around 7 p.m. and on what so far was feeling like a normal day at the suite. Friends are over to hang out, and some of my suitemates were doing homework, playing country music on a speaker, and watching the New York Mets-Miami Marlins Spring Training game. Instead of taking time alone to get into “game mode,” they took a more relaxed attitude and spent time with friends. The Rink Rascals might consider a different approach as they are still looking for their first win after three losses and a tie, but the relaxed nature is par for the course according to Natale.
“Everyone has their own different approach but mine is more of a physical approach when I go out there and play,” said Natale. “But most people have a more mental approach.”
Carlucci can also attest to the laid-back approach to a match.
“Honestly, there is not much into it, not too much preparation,” said Carlucci. “But we go in looking to win and,most of all, we are looking to have some fun.”
This went on for around an hour then they left in order to get food and to get ready for the match, I told them that I will catch up with them later. I got the stuff I needed to report then I headed out.
I made it to the Ice Center around 8:45 p.m. and hung out with the team for the bit. I tried going on the ice, but I was not allowed,
So I went to my “press box” (AKA a small corner in the front row of the bleachers) and got ready to watch some action.
Snapshot of the game. The Rink Rascals are in red while One Pound Fish is in white
The team that the Rink Rascals played against was One Pound Fish, who was looking to improve from their record of 2-3-1. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but the action during the match made up for the lack of goals in the match. Most of the first half happened in the middle of the ice, in which the defense from both teams led to the ball going back and forth.
The second half saw a lot more shots on goals and, with that, more saves. One play stuck out during the second half, when a One Pound Fish player blasted the ball towards the net, but goalkeeper Vincent Graff used his entire body to stop the ball.
The teams advance to a record of 0-3-2 for the Rink Rascals and 2-3-2 for One Pound Fish.
“It was fun, we are friends with the other team, so it was fun and games,” said Lee.
This experience made me realize something. It doesn’t hurt to have a more relaxed attitude to sports in general. After all, they are just games that people play.